This grim, scary cartoon depicts presidential nominee Winfield Hancock's attempt
to revive the moribund Democratic party as a desperate and dangerous venture
that is almost certainly doomed to failure. The first successful blood
transfusion between humans occurred in 1795 (although it was not immediately
publicized), and the medical procedure was used in the United States during an
outbreak of Asiatic cholera in 1832. During the 19th century, though, it
remained an uncommon and risky practice. Medical societies and researchers
worked toward better and safer techniques, but it was not until the 1920s that
the first anticoagulant was developed and refrigeration for storage was used.
Further improvements were made over the years, particularly spurred by the
massive number of casualties in World War II, after which blood transfusions
became a standard practice. The imagery of this cartoon must have been shocking
to some viewers and a wonder to nearly all.